MANNING Photo by Jodie Hallows
A PAIR of Group Ones and a spell - that's what awaits Australian Pacing Gold purchase Manning.
Triumphant in Friday night's Pearl Classic at Gloucester Park, Manning has been aimed at the Westbred Classic by trainer Justin Prentice.
The $125,000 feature is scheduled to be conducted at the same venue in a fortnight.
Should the classy youngster perform to expectations he will then be set for the Golden Slipper on July 12.
Prentice will then put the son of Sportswriter into a paddock with the hope he can return as a Derby contender next season.
"He's already done a great job and with a bit of luck he will keep that going for another couple of starts," Prentice said.
"He has the Westbred in a couple of weeks, and if he goes well enough in that, we'll head towards the Golden Slipper.
"Them I'll give him a good break and see how he comes back next time in."
The sole starter along the second line Manning was settled two-back in the running line by Chris Lewis as his stablemate Aristocratic Star led from barrier two.
Angled three-wide without cover at the bell, the gelding sustained a strong sprint to complete a two-and-a-half metre win from the pacemaker, with Tenacious George five metres away third.
"That was a pretty good run from both of them," Prentice said. "I thought Manning went a little better in his heat, but he still went well enough to win."
Rating 1:58.8 over 2130 metres, the two-year-old stretched his record to three wins and a second from six starts for earnings of $91,913.
